Liquid-dispensing apparatus



April 7, 1925.

A. J. SEALE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney A ril 7, 1925. 1,532,957

A. JFSEALE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jag .8.

1 Inven or v flZ/reJJ 1 6 6226 t Attorney April 7, 1925.

A. J. SEALE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1924 4She ets-Sheet 3 Inventor l i t: m

Attorney April 7, 1925.

.A. J. SEALE LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb 28, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Attorney Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

, UNITED STATES ALFRED JosErE'sEALE, or GRANBY, QUEBEC, (mum.

LIQUID-DISPEN SING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 28, 1924. Serial No. 695,848.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Bedt known that I,- Anrnnn J. SEALE', a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Granby, Province of Quebec, Canada,

have invented certain new and useful Im-' provements in: Liquid-Dispensing Apparatus; and I dofhereby. declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which tains to make and use the same.

The present invention pertains to a novel liquid dispensing apparatus, preferably, of the coin or key controlled type for serving 1 gasoline or oil. It will, however, be under: stood that the apparatus may be used for dispensing liquid of any desired'character.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character including a'discharge pump adapted for operation by a key controlled device. To this end, the mechanism includes a disc normally locked with respect to the casing and disengaged therefrom only by the in- F sertion of a key. The disc can be turned after the proper key'is inserted, whereupon a motor is started for setting. the pump in action. A device is rovided for normally returning the disc to 1ts initial position, but the casing carries a pawl for holding the device against return movement. The pump operates as long as the disc is thus held against return movement, and ceases only when the holding device is released by a trip movable from the pump mechanism. Two or more such discs are preferably associated with the device for the, delivery of] different quantities of liquid. The embodiment described in the present instance.

' comprises two discs at opposite sides of the trip carrying member. The trips are disposed at unequal distances from the top of the member carrying them, so that the operative period of the pump varies in accordance with the disc in which the key is inserted.

The invention further includes an automatic device for extracting the key upon rotation of the disc and delivering it into a locked receptacle.

The-invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompany-.

ing drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the evice;

it apper- Figure '1, the door being closed;

Figures 2 and 2" are enlarged details of Figure 2,- showing the door' lock in closed and open positions respectively; 69 Figure 3 is a detail of one of the pawl I sprmgs; l

I Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure ,5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure-4;

Figure 7 is .a detail of Figure 6;

Figure 8 isa detail corresponding to Figure 7, showing the parts in a difierent position;

Figure 9 is a detail showing the cam and key extractor in engagement;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Figure 2; 1

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is'a section on the line 12-12 of Flgure 10';

Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figurell;

Figure 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Figure 4;

Figure 15 is a section on the: line 15--15 35 of Figure 1;

Figure 16 is a section similar to Figure 15, showing the door closed;

Figure 17' is a section of the valve controlled pump inlet; Figure 18 is a detail section of one'of the piston valves;

Figure 19 is a wiring diagram; and,

.- Figure 20 is a section on the line 2020 of Figure 2.

Reference will now be had-to these views by means of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout. a As shown in Figures land 2, the device comprises a box like base 1 in which is supported a pump cylinder 2 connected by means of a pipe 3 to an underground storage tank not shown. A piston rod 4 passesthrough the topof-the cylinder and carries at its lower end a piston 5 fitting tightly into the cylinder. The base of the cylmder is formed with a valve seat 6, ,upon which rests a ball or ravit valve 7. This member is prevented om ting drawn upwardly .into the cylinder by means of a cage 8. On

into WhlCh are inserted valve seats 10 containing gravity or ball valves 11 similar to the members 7. These also are prevented from being drawn intothe cylinder proper by means of cages 12. On the upward stroke of the piston these valves are closed, whereby the liquid is forced through the outlet 13 (Figure 10). On the downward stroke of the piston the valve 7 is closed and the valves 11 opened whereby the liquid is free to flow from the bottom to the top of the piston and thus permit free downward movement ofthe atter. A housing 14 is mounted upon the base 1 and contains the operatin mechanism described in detail below. outletl pipe 15 extends from the outlet 13 upwardl into this housing and through one of tile walls thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer en of the outer pipe is fitted with an elbow 16 to which is attached a flexible hose 17 adapted for insertion into the gasoline tank of an automobile or into any other receptacle into which the liquid is to be delivered. The outlet end of the hose may conveniently be supported when not in use upon a hook 18 secured to the base 1. The parts within the base may be reached through the door 19 normally closed at the lock 20.

To the up er end of the piston rod is secured a rac 21 extending into the housing 14' and disposed adjacent the forward wall 22 thereof, as shown in Figure 2. The forward wall is formed near its top with a slot 23 adj'acentwhich a series of volume indications 24 are marked. The upper end of the rack is formed with an indicator 25 visible through the slot and cooperating with the indications 24. The rack isguided in part by a roller 26 engaging the back thereof and secured to the top of thebase 1.

On the top of the base 1 and within the housing 14 is supported a motor 27, the shaft 28 of which carries a pinion 29. A counter shaft 30 is suitably 'journaled within the housing and carries at one end a gear 31 meshing with the pinion 29. The re- .maining end carries a pinion 32 which meshes with the rack 21, as shown in Fig ures 5 andlO.

An intermediate wall 33 is disposed a short distance behind the front wall 22 and cooperates with the front wall to enclose the rack 21. A pair of parallel shafts 34 and 35 are journaled in the-rear wall and intermediate wall as shown in Figure 4. The forward ends of the shafts protrude into the space between the walls 22 and 23 and are there provided with discs 36 and 37. Inasmuchas these discs and parts asd of key receivingcompartments 46 the direction.

sociated therewith are identical in structure, it will be necessary to describe only one of them in detail. Each disc carries a lock 38 from which protrudes a spring pressed bolt 39. The disc is surrounded by a ring 40 secured in the space between the walls 22 and 33, thus enclosing thedisc completely. At the top of the ring is formed a keeper 41 for enclosing the bolt. and holding the disc in a locked position. When a key of proper shape is inserted in the lock, the vbolt can be partially withdrawn whereby the disc is free to rotate with reference .tothe ring. Rotation may be efi'ected'by means of a crank 42 secured to the extreme forward end of the corresponding shaft.

A receptacle 43 is secured to the lower portion of thefront wall 22 and extends upwardly as far as the shafts 34 and 35,

.thus concealing the lower half of, each disc.

The interior of the receptacle 43 is divided by means of partitions 44 and 45 into-a pair I and 47 at theends and beneath the discs. The top of the receptacle is formed at its end with slots 46' and 47 (Figure 4) adapted to allow the passage of the keys inserted in the discs. The lower portion of each ring 40 is formed with a; stop 48 for engaging the corresponding bolt 39 and limiting the movement of the disc. This stop enlarging, the adjacent portlon of the ring as indicated by the numeral 49 in- Figure 11.

To the top of each compartment is pivot'ed a depending flap 50 carrying a finger 51. As the key 52 travels into the com artment as a result of rotation of the cran 42, the shoulder thereof is engaged by the fia in the mannershown in Figure 12. Eac disc carries a cam '53 on a radial line passing through the lock, and this cam engages finger and pushes theflap outwardly after the disc has been stopped at 48.- The key isthus extracted from the lock and drops into one'of the compartments.

The I innermost point of each -ring is formed with an aperture 54 into which extends the hook end 55 ofa pawl pivoted on a shaft 56 journaled between the walls 22 and 33. The shafts 34 and 35 carry pulleys is formed by Ill) 34 and 35 surrounded by cables 34 and 34 which are normally pulled downwardly by weights 34 and 34. After the rotary movement of the disc has been stopped at 48 the weights return the discs in the opposite This return movement 1s prevented when the hook ends 55 are engaged by teeth 57 carried by the discs.

The conductors 58 and 59 leading to the motor-have switches 60 inserted in them beneath the rear ends of the shafts 34 and 35. These switches-are normally opened whereby the motor is rendered inoperative. Each switch comprisesa spring pressed contact member 61 e'ngageable by a cam 62'carried at the rear end of the corresponding shaft 34 or 35. VVhen' the shaft is returned by the crank 42 in the manner already described,

the corresponding cam 62 presses the member 61 inwardly andcloses the switch. The compartment 43 may be enclosed within a cover 65 pivoted to the front wall 22 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case the conductor 66 connected to the side of the motor opposite the switches above referred to contains a similar switch 67 having an outwardly spring pressed contact member 68 open. This member is engageable by a curved finger 69 carried at the inner edge of the door and adapted to press the mem ber 68 inwardly when the door is losed, thereby closing the circuit. Due tothis construction, the. pump cannot be operatedunless the member 68 is pressed inwardly, which occurs when the door covering the discs is closed.

The motor is 110w set into operation and the piston 5 is raised through the action of pinion 32 and rack 21, whereby liquid is expelled from the tank. The rack carries trips 63 and 64 adapted to lift the pawls and release the hooked ends from the teeth 57. It will be noted that the trip. 63 is spaced at a shorter distance from the top of the rack than the member 64. When a key is inserted in the disc the pump will operate until the trip 63 rises to engagement with the correspondingpawl. Similarly, if a key is inserted in the disc 37, delivery of liquid will take place until the trip 64 releases its corresponding pawl. Due to the difference of position of the trips on the rack, it follows that different quantities of liquid will.

be delivered in accordance with the disc that is actuated. For example, the trips ma be so disposed on the rack that operation 0 the discs 36 and 37 will permit delivery of one gallon and five gallons respectively. The keys for releasing the discswill obviously differ from one another in construction so that they cannot be used interchangeably for obtaining either quantity of liquid.

\Vhen the motor is stopped after elevau ing. the piston, the weight of the latter acting on the fluid in the cylinder 2 causes the valves 7 to open. The piston thus descends by its own weight, since the flow of liquid therethrough is not obstructed.

To the housing 14 is attached a solenoid 70 lying at-the inner side of the wall 33, as shown in Figures 2 2 and 20. The solenoid is connected in series'with the motor circuit, asshown in Figure 19. The core of the solenoid projects through the bottom of the latter in'the nature of a stem 71, to" which is pivoted a latch. 72 projecting through all aperture 73 inthe wall 33 and pivoted to said w all.- A keeper 74 is secured the switch 67 upon normally holding the switch,

'without departing hous1ng,

to a side of the door 65 andprojects through the opening 75 in the wall22 whereby it is engageable by the latch 72. lVhen the motor circuit is completed by the closing of closing of the door 65, the solenoid is energised and the stem 71 is pulled upwardly to bring the latch in engagement with the keeper. The door is thus locked and can not be opened until the cir euit is broken at the switches 60 when the' discs 36 and 37 have returned to their initial position. The cranks 42are thus rendered inaccessible during theoperation of the pump. If theyv could be reached while the pumpis in motion, they could be turned backwards before the discs are locked, whereby the pump could be caused to effect an indefinite number of incomplete strokes by the insertion of a single key. In order that the device shall deliver only the specified amountof liquid for one coin, it is essential that the cranks be made inaccessible during the operation of the device.

While a specific embodiment of the inven-- tion has been'illustrated and described, it is to be understood that, various alterations in the, details of construction may be made from the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention,

What I claim as new and and desire to pro tect by Letters Patent is z- 1. A. liquid dispensing apparatus. comprising a housing, a pump disposed within said housing, a motor for actuating said pump, a switch disposed in the motor cit-'- cuit, a disc rotatably supported by the housing and adapted to be locked thereto, and an operative connection between the disc and the switch for closing the motor circuit.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a housing, a pump disposed therein, a disc rotatably supported by the housing andadapted to be locked thereto, said disc being adapted to control the operation of the pump, said disc being adapted to receive a key for unlocking it from the housing, a

; receptacle disposed beneath the disc, a flap a cam carrled 1 pivoted to the receptacle, and by the disc andadapted to engage said flap for extracting the key fromthe disc.

3. A dispensing apparatus comprising a a pump disposed therein, a disc rotatably supported by the housing and adapted to be locked thereto, said disc being adapted to control the operation of the pump means for returning the disc to normal posltion after rotation, means disc against return"movement, and a trip member actuated from said pump for releasing said last named means. 1

4. A liquid dispensin apparatus comprising a housing, a pump isposed therein, said pump comprising a eylin er, a piston and a for holding said piston rod, a a motor disposed within the casing and oper atively connected to said rack, a disc rotatably supported by the housing, a switch in the motor circuit, an operative connection between the disc and the switch, meansfor returning said disc after rotation,

piston rod, a rack extending from said rod,- a motor disposed within the casing and operatively connected to said rack, a disc rotatably supported bythe housing, a switch in the motor circuit, an operative connection between the disc and the switch, means for returning saiddisc after rotation, a tooth carried by said disc, housin and adapted to engage said tooth for ho ding the disc against return movement, and a trip carriedby the rack and adapted to release said pawl from the tooth. 6. A liquid dispensingapparatus comprising a housing, motor for actuating said pump, a switch in the motor circuit, ashaft rotatably supported in the casing adi-sc carried b said shaft, a lock carrie by the disc and a apted to secure the disc against rotatiomand a cam carried b said shaft and adapted to close the switc upon rotation of the disc.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a housing, a pump disposed there1n-, a

motor for actuating sa1d pump, a switch in the motor circuit, a shaft rotatably supported in the 'casi a disc carried bysaid shaft, a lock carrie by the disc and adapted to secure the disc against rotation, a cam carried by said shaft and. adapted to close the switch upon rotationof'the' disc, meansv for returning said disc to normal position,

means .for holding said disc against return 'movement, and a trip operable the pump mechanism means.

8. A liquid dispensin apparatus comprising a housing, a'pump' is osed therein, said pump comprising a cylin er, a piston and a piston rod, a rack extending from said piston rod, a shaft journaled in the housing, a

disc'carri ed by said shaft and adapted to be locked with reference to the housing, means for returning said disc to normal position aftenrotation, means for holding the disc against return movement, a trip'carried by the rack for'releasi'ng said last named means, a motor for actuating said pump,a switch in the motor circuit, and meanscarried by the shaft for closingsaid switch upon rotation of the disc.

9. A liquid dispensin apparatus comprising a housing", a pump isposed therein, said rack extendingfromv said rod,

- ing said discs means for 'tlOIl, means for holding said disc against return movement,

a pawl pivoted tothe a pump disposed therein, a.

for releasingsaid ast named pump including a cylinder, a piston,'a piston rod and a pump driving mechanism,'a rack extending from I said rod, a pair of discs rotatably supported in the casing and means connected with said discs for controlling the pump driving'mechanism, means for returnto normal position after rotaholding said discs against return movement, and a pair of trips car ried by the rack and adapted torelease said last named means, said trips being spaced at unelgual distances from the upper end ofthe rac 10. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a housing, a pump dis osed therein, said pump including a cylin, er, a piston, a piston rod and a pump driving mechanism, a rack extending fromsaid rod, a pair of discs rotatably supported in the casing andmeans connected with said discs for controlling the pump driving mechanism, means for returning said discs to normal position after rotation, a tooth carried by eachdisc,

;a pair of pawls supported by the'housing operative connection between the discand theswitch for closing the motor circuit, an

electromagnet supported by the housing and connected into the motor circuit, a door pivoted to the housing andadapted to cover said disc, and a locking device carried by the door andelectromagnet and adapted to open when said switch is opened.

12. A liquid dispensing a' prising a housing, a pump disposed within said housing, a motor for actuating said disposed in the motor cirparatus comto release said pump, a switch disposed in the motor circuit, a disc rotatably supported by the hoes-4 ing and adaptedto be locked thereto, an operative connection between the discs and the swit h for closingthe motor circuit, a door pivoted to the housing'and adapted to cover said disc, a second-switch provided in the motor circuit and ada ted to close upon closin of the door, an e ectromagnet supporte by the housing and connected into the motor circuit, and a locking device carried b the door and eIectromagnet and adapted to open? when said first named. switch is,opene d.' 4 1. In1 witness whereof I have hereunto set my ian ALFRED JOSEPH SEALE. 

